Huskers Cruise to 11-0 Run-Rule Victory

Las Cruces, N.M. - An eight-run fifth inning powered the ninth-ranked Nebraska softball team to an 11-0 five-inning victory at New Mexico State on Saturday night in Las Cruces, N.M.

Nebraska pounded out 10 hits in its best offensive effort of the young season. Junior Kylee Muir and sophomore Hailey Decker, a pair of Oregon natives, both homered, while senior Taylor Edwards and sophomore Kiki Stokes each produced multi-hit games. Muir produced a career-high three RBIs in the win, while Decker drove in two and added a walk. Edwards finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and an RBI. Stokes was 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored.

Not to be outdone, senior right-hander Tatum Edwards fired her first shutout of the season in the circle. In improving to 2-0, Edwards tossed a four-hitter and allowed only one runner to advance to third base.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 3-0 on the year. New Mexico State fell to 1-2, with Celisha Walker taking the loss. Walker allowed nine runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings.

After recording just one hit the first time through the order against Walker, the Huskers struck quickly the second time through the order. Stokes began the top of the third inning with an infield single, and she scored on a one-out RBI double off the bat of Taylor Edwards. Decker then blasted a two-run homer to give the Huskers a 3-0 lead.

Neither team threatened again until New Mexico State loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Edwards escaped the jam with a three-pitch strikeout.

In the eight-run fifth, Taylor Edwards led off with a double to center field. Decker followed with a walk before Muir blasted an opposite field three-run homer to stretch the Husker lead to 6-0. Junior Mattie Fowler followed the homer with a single before freshman MJ Knighten doubled. Freshman Lotte Sjulin scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Alicia Armstrong to make it 7-0. Freshman Austen Urness then singled and stole second to put runners at second and third with only one out. Knighten scored on a bloop RBI single from Stokes.

Leading 8-0, a walk to Tatum Edwards loaded the bases still with only one out. A wild pitch then brought Urness home. With runners on second and third, Taylor Edwards walked and on ball four, a wild pitch scored Stokes with Nebraska's 10th run. On the wild pitch, a throwing error by the Aggie catcher allowed freshman pinch runner Kat Woolman to score and give NU an 11-0 lead.

After the big inning, Edwards worked around a leadoff single to wrap up her 16th career shutout.

The Huskers wrap up play at the Hotel Encanto Invitational on Sunday with a rematch against No. 12 Florida State at 10 a.m. Nebraska scored twice in its final at bat to rally for a 4-3 win over the Seminoles on Friday.